Why won't my doctor let me get my cholesterol checked?

[Paris_08]

I gained a little bit of weight (I'm in the process of losing it though), and I want to get my cholesterol checked because my father had heart disease, so I have a higher chance of getting it.
When I asked why, they said "Because you're too young." WTF? Anyone can have heart disease at any age, and I consider myself lucky I don't.

Some doctors need to get their facts straight... go back to med school!!

I'm 19 years old, and I don't smoke, drink, or anything like that.

[Anonymous]

You are past the age of having congenital heart diseases and too young to have atherosclerotic heart disease. You do not have the risk factors for atherosclerosis. NO alcohol, No smoking. But You can insist him you want to take the test. Doctors do not give unnecessary tests because, stupid people sue them that they prescribed unwanted tests. Your conditions do not warrant a Lipid profile. So you have to tell him that you need that test for your own reference. And "anyone CANNOT hav heart disease at any age". Hereditary diseases present very late and your test will show absolutely no signs of a heart disease. Feel free to do it. You can change as many number of doctors you want and do as many tests you want. They all are gonna be a waste of money. You are already doing a good job at preventing majority of risk factors. Just monitor your BMI and control your weight. After that, It's your wish.

[Anonymous]

Tell him it's for your peace of mind or find another Dr.

[Paris_08]

I really do want to change doctors, but my counselor at school told me it wouldn't be a wise thing to do since I'm having other problems as it is.
But I'm going to ask one more time, and if they refuse, I'm switching doctors.

[Opinion Owner]

You can go to a clinic & get tested or another Dr. just for the test.

[Paris_08]

Yes, there's a CVS down the street- they have a clinic.
I also have a Walgreen's in my neighborhood.

[Opinion Owner]

I'm a lot older then you. I go to the gym 6 days a week, I lift & also do cardio 3 of 6 days. I don't eat sweets & no soda. My cholesterol is close to 200. Go figure? My dad died when he was 56. Just as you wrote hereditary?

[Paris_08]

That's why I don't understand why they won't check it. I barely eat sweets or drink soda anymore either, and I do a lot of walking, but I go to the gym sometimes. It could be high right now and I don't even know it. Dumb doctors...

[Anonymous]

Speaking as a 5th year medical student:

You are naturally protected against arteriosclerosis (i. e from depositions inside your vessels causing hypertension and lots of other nasty crap) by your female hormones, and arteriosclerosis is a slow process. So don't worry about your cholesterol until after menopause.

I'm sure that your physician has checked your blood pressure, and if it is normal then there is no indications that you are in danger of developing cardiovascular disease.

Keep in mind that a doctor studies medicine for 6-8 years, then additional 3-8 years of specialisation. Who are you to question his decisions?

If I were you I would rather worry about getting struck by lightning, getting hit by a car/truck, dying in a traffic accident, infectious diseases, drugs, and a lot of other stuff before worrying about heart diseases as a young female.

[Paris_08]

So why did a doctor at an ER tell me anyone can have it at any age? Obviously she went to school for 6-8 years too.
I'm not healthy if I'm overweight now am I?

People die from heart disease everyday. Why should my life be risked because a stupid doctor doesn't want to check my cholesterol? It's not that hard to do.

I'm tired of people using "You're too young" as a damn excuse. People can eat healthy, be a normal weight, and still end up with heart disease. Sheesh!

Oh, and heart disease kills more women than men in case you didn't know that.

[Opinion Owner]

People who die because of a heart disease before 30 is definitely not because of cholesterol. It seems like you already think you know the answers, but there are many other heart diseases, and most of them are not caused by excess cholesterol.

If you think cholesterol causes all kinds of heart disease then you should go and educate yourself. Excess cholesterol over long time is believed to cause arteriosclerosis, which leads hypertension, and it is the hypertension that causes certain heart conditions, such as hypertrophy, infarcts, and ultimately left ventricular dilation.
But, you're a female under the protection of estrogen, so this doesn't affect you much until menopause.

Your claim that heart disease kills more women than men is a lie:
"Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women. More than half of the deaths due to heart disease in 2009 were in men."
cdc. gov/heartdisease/facts. htm

Google estrogen protection against heart disease

[Paris_08]

It kills more women because they have different symptoms. Therefore, they don't get medical attention because they don't know think anything is wrong.
So it's not a lie. Go on "Go Red for Women".

[Opinion Owner]

Did you even check the CDC link? You're wrong. Accept it.

This is my last reply to you.

[Paris_08]

No I didn't read your link -_-
The fact that you're not listening to anything I have to say shows how self-centered you are.
You can't stand being wrong.

But I don't give a f**k anymore. Take your narcissist a** somewhere else.

Bye...

[Opinion Owner]

The links were official statistic about how wrong you are. Good luck.

[yaddayaddayadda02]

Go find another doctor.

[Paris_08]

I really want to, but the counselor at my school said don't, since A) It'll take several months, possibly, and B) Since I'm having other problems, it'll he harder.

But I'm switching anyway. And I'm going to tell my counselor that today when I see her in a few hours.

[yaddayaddayadda02]

You're in the US, really? You should be able to even just go to a CVS minute clinic and pay cash for a blood test.

[Paris_08]

There's a CVS down the street from my college... I can walk there and as for a blood test.